Locking-stopper for washing-machines.



No. 669,566. Patented Mar. I2, 1901.

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LOCKING STOPPER FUR WASHING MACHINES.

(Application filed Aug. 13, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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WILLIAM VAUDT, OF VANMETER, IOWA.

LOCKlNG -STOPPER FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

i: EECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 669,566, dated March12, 1901.

Application filed August 13, 1900. Serial No. 26,705. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM VAUDT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Vanmeter, in the county of Dallas and State of Iowa, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Locking-Stoppers forWashing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a device of simple, durable,and inexpensive construction in the nature of an attachment to beapplied to any ordinary washing-machine or tank containing liquid and toprovide means whereby a stopper may be locked in position in thedraining-opening of said washing-machine or tank, so that it cannot beloosened and forced out by shaking the machine and so that the stoppercannot readily be withdrawn by children; and my object is, further, inthe same connection to provide meanslwhereby the stopper may be held ina position away from the opening, so that it cannot be lost ormisplaced.

My invention consists in certain details in the arrangement,construction, and combination of the various parts of the device wherebythe objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully setforth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a sectional view of a portion of awashing-machine with my improved locking-stopper locked in thedraining-opening of the washing-machine. Fig. 2 shows the device inperspective and held in its open position; and Fig. 3 shows a transversesectional view of the device, taken at the pivotal point of thestopper-bearing lever.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used thereference-numeral to indicate that portion of the washingmachine shown,and 11 indicates the draining-opening therein.

The numeral 12 indicates a flat cast-metal base designed to be securedto a washingmachine body adjacent to the draining-opening thereof,either on the side or bottom of the washing-machine. Near the centralportion of the casting is an integral ing 13, and a lever let is pivotedto said lug. On one end of the lever 14 is a stopper 15 and a shorthandle 16, and on the other end of the lever is a shoulder 17 and acurved face 18 forpurposes hereinafter made clear. The lever ispivotally connected with the lug by means of a bolt 19, passed throughthe lever and lug, and mounted upon the bolt is asleeve 20. The spring21 is fixed at one end to the base 12. Its central portion is coiledupon the sleeve 20, and its other end overlaps and rests against the topof the lever 14, near the end thereof which supports the stopper. Thisoverlapping end is indicated by the referencenumeral 22.

Near one end of the base 12 is a perforated lug 23, and pivotallymounted in said lug is a pawl 2-t. This pawl is provided with roundedouter end 25 and a shoulder 26, a short haudle 27 being attached to thepawl. A leafspring 28 is fixed to the base to engage the outer surfaceof the pawl and normally force it toward the base. 1

The parts described are so arranged and proportioned that when theshoulder 26 of the pawl 24 is placed in engagement with the shoulder 17of the lever 14: the said lever will be held in position against forceof the spring 21 and out of the draining-opening of the washing-machine,as illustrated in 2. Then when it is desired to place the stopper in thedraining-opening the pawl 24 is elevated by means of its handle 27 andthe lever 14 released, so that its spring 21 will forcethestopperintothedraining-opening. When this is done, the rounded end 25of the pawl will engage the rounded surface 18 of the lever and securelylock the lever in position, the said leaf-spring 28 serving to force thepawl into engagement with the lever to prevent the stopper fromwithdrawing from the opening in the washing-machine.

In practical use it is obvious that the device may be attached to awashing-machine or other vessel containing liquids, either on the sideor the bottom thereof, and when in the position shown in Fig. 1 thestopper is locked in position, so that it cannot be withdrawn by shakingthe machine and so that it is not likely to be tampered with or openedby children, and, furthermore, on account of the constant pressure ofthe spring 21 the stopper is automatically forced into the drainingopening to thereby prevent leakage. When it is desired to drain thewashing-machine, the pawl24 is first withdrawn from engagement with thelever. Then the stopper is pulled out by means of the short handle 16until the shoulder 17 of the lever passes under the pawl. Then thespring 28 of the pawl forces the pawl to engage the shoulder 17, andthereby lock the lever in its open position, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States therefor, is

1. An improved locking-stopper for washing-machines and the like,comprising a pivoted lever, a stopper secured to one end of the lever, aspring for normally holding the lever in position where the stopper willbe forced into a drain-opening in a washing-machine or the like, and apawl adjacent to the opposite end of the lever, designed to lock saidopposite end'in a position with the stopper in the draining-opening inthe washingmachine, and a shoulder on said end of the lever, to beengaged by said pawl, whereby the lever may be locked in position withthe stopper away from the draining-opening of thewashingmachine, for thepurposes stated.

2. A locking-stopper for washing-machin es, comprising in combination, apivoted lever, having a rounded surface 18 and a shoulder 17 on one end,and a stopper at the opposite end of the lever and apawl pivotedadjacent to the lever, and havinga shoulder 26, said pawl being designedto be capable of engaging the rounded surface 18 and looking it inposition away from the washing-machine and the shoulder 26 thereof,being capable of engaging the shoulder 17 of the lever and looking thelever in a position with its stopper away from the washing-machine.

3. An improved locking-stopper for washing-machines and the like,comprising in combination a base, a lug formed on or fixed to the base,a lever pivotally connected with the log, and having the stopper 15 atone end, a rounded surface 19 at the other end, and a shoulder 1'7adjacent to the rounded surface WILLIAM VAUDT.

Witnesses:

J. RALPH ORWIG, THOMAS G. ORWIG.

